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劉毅
Liu Yi.
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劉毅，字仲雄，東萊掖人。 漢城陽景王章之後。 父喈，丞相屬。 毅幼有孝行，少厲清節，然好臧否人物，王公貴人望風憚之。 僑居平陽，太守杜恕請為功曹，沙汰郡吏百餘人，三魏稱焉。 為之語曰：「但聞劉功曹，不聞杜府君。」 魏末，本郡察孝廉，辟司隸都官從事，京邑肅然。 毅將彈河南尹，司隸不許，曰：「攫獸之犬，鼷鼠蹈其背。」 毅曰：「既能攫獸，又能殺鼠，何損於犬！」 投傳而去。 同郡王基薦毅於公府，曰：「毅方正亮直，介然不群，言不苟合，行不苟容。 往日僑仕平陽，為郡股肱，正色立朝，舉綱引墨，朱紫有分，《鄭》、《衛》不雜，孝弟著于邦族，忠貞效于三魏。 昔孫陽取騏驥于吳阪，秦穆拔百里於商旅。 毅未遇知己，無所自呈。 前已口白，謹復申請。」 太常鄭袤舉博士，文帝辟為相國掾，辭疾，積年不就。 時人謂毅忠於魏氏，而帝怒其顧望，將加重辟。 毅懼，應命，轉主薄。
Liu Yi, styled Zhongxiong, came from Ye in Donglai. He traced his ancestry to Prince Jing of Chengyang, Liu Zhang, under the Han. His father, Liu Gu, served as an aide to the Chancellor. Yi was dutiful as a boy and austere in morals, but he freely praised and censured people, and even kings and grandees learned to dread him. While residing in Pingyang as a guest, he became Du Shu's merit assessor, removed more than a hundred county officers, and men across the Three Wei applauded him. People rhymed: "You hear about Registrar Liu, never about Governor Du." Late in Wei his county recommended him as filial and honest; he became a clerk under the metropolitan governor for capital cases, and order settled over the capital. When Yi moved to impeach the governor of Henan, the metropolitan governor vetoed him: "The hound that takes prey still has a mouse scamper across its back." Yi retorted, "If it can bring down game, it can kill vermin—what insult is that to the hound?" He slammed down his commission and walked off. His fellow townsman Wang Ji urged him on the great council: "Yi is square, candid, and blunt—set apart from factions; he will not trim his words or manners to please. Earlier, posted in Pingyang, he was the prefect's mainstay; he faced court with a straight spine, pulled guideline and plumb line so ranks stayed sorted and coarse music never crept in—filial duty shone in his kin, loyalty across the Three Wei. Sun Yang once picked fleet horses on the Wu hills; Duke Mu of Qin lifted Baili Xi straight out of the caravan trade. Yi still lacks a patron who recognizes him and has nowhere to show what he can do. I reported this earlier in person; I now renew the request in writing." Minister Zheng Mao nominated him as a doctorate holder; Emperor Wen called him to the chancellor's staff, yet he pleaded sickness and stayed away for years. Observers credited Yi with loyalty to Wei; the emperor read his stalling as defiance and meant to execute him. Terrified, Yi obeyed and was reassigned as chief clerk.
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武帝受禪，為尚書郎、駙馬都尉，遷散騎常侍、國子祭酒。 帝以毅忠蹇正直，使掌諫官。 轉城門校尉，遷太僕，拜尚書，坐事免官。 咸寧初，復為散騎常侍、博士祭酒。 轉司隸校尉，糾正豪右，京師肅然。 司部守令望風投印綬者甚眾，時人以毅方之諸葛豐、蓋寬饒。 皇太子朝，鼓吹將入東掖門，毅以為不敬，止之於門外，奏劾保傅以下。 詔赦之，然後得入。
After the Jin founder took the throne, Yi served as palace gentleman and commandant of consort cavalry, then rose to imperial attendant and rector of the imperial academy. The emperor put Yi—steadfast and blunt—in charge of the remonstrance corps. He rotated through colonel of the gates and minister of the imperial stud, became minister of state affairs, then lost his post over an incident. Early in Xianning he returned as attendant-in-ordinary and libationer over the classicists. As metropolitan governor he reined in great houses until the capital fell quiet. Prefects up and down the capital circuit surrendered their seals at his approach; contemporaries likened him to Zhuge Feng and Gai Kuangrao. When the crown prince came to court, the military band tried to pass the eastern inner gate; Yi judged it a breach of ritual, blocked them outside, and impeached everyone from the tutors on down. An edict granted amnesty; only then could they enter.
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帝嘗南郊，禮畢，喟然問毅曰：「卿以朕方漢何帝也？」 對曰：「可方桓、靈。」 帝曰：「吾雖德不及古人，猶克己為政。 又平吳會，混一天下。 方之桓、靈，其已甚乎！」 對曰：「桓、靈賣官，錢入官庫； 陛下賣官，錢入私門。 以此言之，殆不如也。」 帝大笑曰：「桓靈之世，不聞此言。 今有直臣，故不同也。」 散騎常侍鄒湛進曰：「世談以陛下比漢文帝，人心猶不多同。 昔馮唐答文帝，雲不能用頗牧而文帝怒，今劉毅言犯順而陛下歡。 然以此相校，聖德乃過之矣。」 帝曰：「我平天下而不封禪，焚雉頭裘，行布衣禮，卿初無言。 今于小事，何見褒之甚？」 湛曰：「臣聞猛獸在田，荷戈而出，凡人能之。 蜂蠆作於懷袖，勇夫為之驚駭，出於意外故也。 夫君臣有自然之尊卑，言語有自然之逆順。 向劉毅始言，臣等莫不變色。 陛下發不世之詔，出思慮之表，臣之喜慶，不亦宜乎！」
After a southern-suburb sacrifice the emperor sighed and asked Yi, "Whom among the Han emperors do you compare Us to?" Yi answered, "About on a level with Emperors Huan and Ling." The emperor said, "Even if Our virtue falls short of antiquity, We still discipline Ourselves in government. We have also crushed Wu, brought the southeast to heel, and united the realm. Stack us beside Huan and Ling—surely that is going too far!" Yi replied, "Under Huan and Ling, office-selling filled the state treasury; when Your Majesty sells offices, the silver lines private pockets. On that score, Your Majesty may even fall short of them." The emperor roared with laughter. "In Huan and Ling's day no one dared say such a thing. Now We have a minister who speaks plain truth—that is the difference." Attendant Zou Zhen added, "Common opinion ranks Your Majesty with Emperor Wen of Han, yet many hearts still withhold full assent. Once Feng Tang told Emperor Wen he could not use Lian Po and Li Mu, and Wen flared with rage; today Liu Yi speaks against the grain and Your Majesty beams. Weighed that way, Your sagely virtue outshines Wen's." The emperor said, "We conquered the realm yet declined the Feng and Shan sacrifices, burned the pheasant-feather cloak, and wore common cloth at court—and you kept silent. Why lavish such praise on so slight a point?" Zhen replied, "They say when a beast ranges the field, any man can grab a spear and face it. Let hornets nest in your sleeve and even the bravest flinch—because danger arrives unlooked-for. Lord and subject observe a natural order of rank; words follow a natural course of deference or bluntness. When Liu Yi first spoke, every one of us went pale. Yet Your Majesty answered with words rare in any reign, beyond ordinary counsel—how could we not rejoice?
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在職六年，遷尚書左僕射。 時龍見武庫井中，帝親觀之，有喜色。 百官將賀，毅獨表曰：「昔龍降鄭時門之外，子產不賀。 龍降夏庭，沫流不禁，卜藏其漦，至周幽王，禍釁乃發。 《易》稱'潛龍勿用，陽在下也。 '證據舊典，無賀龍之禮。」 詔報曰：「正德未修，誠未有以膺受嘉祥。 省來示，以為瞿然。 賀慶之事，宜詳依典義，動靜數示。」 尚書郎劉漢等議，以為：「龍體既蒼，雜以素文，意者大晉之行，戢武興文之應也。 而毅乃引衰世妖異，以疑今之吉祥。 又以龍在井為潛，皆失其意。 潛之為言，隱而不見。 今龍彩質明煥，示人以物，非潛之謂也。 毅應推處。」 詔不聽。 後陰氣解而復合，毅上言：「必有阿黨之臣，奸以事君者，當誅而不誅故也。
After six years in post he became vice director of the left at the Ministry of State Affairs. A dragon appeared in an armory well; the emperor went to see it himself and looked delighted. As the court prepared congratulations, Yi alone memorialized: "Long ago a dragon alighted outside Zheng's Gate of Shi; Zichan refused to celebrate. Another dragon settled in the Xia hall—froth ran unchecked; diviners hid its spittle, yet disaster erupted under King You of Zhou. The Changes reads: 'Hidden dragon, do not act'—the yang force still lies low. The canon offers no precedent for toasting a dragon as auspicious." The court answered: "Our moral cultivation falls short; We are hardly worthy of such omens. Your memorial gave Us pause. Hold any celebration strictly to classical precedent, and keep Us informed as circumstances shift." Clerk Liu Han and colleagues argued: "The beast shows azure hide streaked with white—surely an omen that Great Jin will sheath swords and lift letters. Yet Yi dredges up freak signs from fallen dynasties to discredit today's blessing. Calling a well dragon 'hidden' also misses the point entirely. "Hidden" means concealed from sight—nothing like this blazing beast. This creature gleams in full view—hardly a 'hidden' dragon. Refer Liu Yi for discipline. The throne ignored the motion. When yin mists parted and closed again, Yi wrote: "Some toadying clique is at work—villains who should die but go unpunished.
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毅以魏立九品，權時之制，未見得人，而有八損，乃上疏曰：
Judging Wei's nine-grade scheme an emergency expedient that rewarded mediocrity yet brought eight kinds of harm, Yi memorialized:
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臣聞：立政者，以官才為本，官才有三難，而興替之所由也。 人物難知，一也； 愛憎難防，二也； 情偽難明，三也。 今立中正，定九品，高下任意，榮辱在手。 操人主之威福，奪天朝之權勢。 愛憎決於心，情偽由於己。 公無考校之負，私無告訐之忌。 用心百態，求者萬端。 廉讓之風滅，苟且之欲成。 天下訩訩，但爭品位，不聞推讓，竊為聖朝恥之。
Your servant has learned that sound rule rests on placing talent, yet talent presents three stubborn puzzles—the hinge on which dynasties flourish or fail. First, knowing men is hard; second, partisan liking and loathing slip past every guard; third, sincerity and pretense hide behind the same smile. Yet installing regional graders and fixing nine ranks leaves promotion and ruin to private whim. Graders wield imperial favor and siphon the central government's authority. Private likes settle rank; sincerity or sham rests with them alone. The crown cannot audit them; informers dare not touch them. Schemes multiply by the hundred; petitioners swarm by the thousand. Integrity withers while cynical ambition thrives. The realm buzzes with quarrels over grades alone—no one yields place—and Your servant cringes for this enlightened dynasty.
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夫名狀以當才為清，品輩以得實為平，安危之要，不可不明。 清平者，政化之美也； 枉濫者，亂敗之惡也，不可不察。 然人才異能，備體者釁。 器有大小，達有早晚。 前鄙後修，宜受日新之報； 抱正違時，宜有質直之稱； 度遠闕小，宜得殊俗之狀； 任直不飾，宜得清實之譽； 行寡才優，宜獲器任之用。 是以三仁殊途而同歸，四子異行而均義。 陳平、韓信笑侮於邑裏，而收功於帝王； 屈原、伍胥不容於人主，而顯名於竹帛，是篤論之所明也。
Profiles must pair talent to rank clarity; bands must pair facts to fairness—the hinge of stability hangs here. Fair sorting crowns good rule; twisted favoritism foretells chaos and demands scrutiny. Yet gifts differ, and few mortals excel in every faculty at once. Some vessels hold much, some little; some ripen early, some late. Men once coarse who later refine deserve recognition for renewed virtue; those upright yet out of step with fashion merit praise as bluntly honest; those grand in vision though rough in detail should earn marks as unconventional talents; those candid without polish deserve reputations for lucid substance; those spare in conduct yet rich in skill fit specialized appointments. Thus the Three Worthies walked divergent roads toward one humanity; the Four Masters matched one another in integrity despite unlike paths. Chen Ping and Han Xin were mocked in their lanes yet crowned service under heaven; Qu Yuan and Wu Zixu won no favor from kings yet live on in ink—the histories prove as much.
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今之中正，不精才實，務依黨利，不均稱尺，備隨愛憎。 所欲與者，獲虛以成譽； 所欲下者，吹毛以求疵。 高下逐強弱，是非由愛憎。 隨世興衰，不顧才實，衰則削下，興則扶上，一人之身，旬日異狀。 或以貨賂自通，或以計協登進，附托者必達，守道者困悴。 無報於身，必見割奪。 有私於己，必得其欲。 是以上品無寒門，下品無勢族。 暨時有之，皆曲有故。 慢主罔時，實為亂源。 損政之道一也。
Today's graders ignore real merit, chase factional gain, skew every yardstick, and follow private spite. Favorites win hollow praise; targets they dislike endure hair-splitting fault-finding. Rank tracks brute strength; verdicts track private spite. They surf fashion's tides, ignoring substance—demoting the fallen, puffing the ascendant—so one man's file changes shape within days. Some buy promotion, some scheme their way up—clients of power rise while principled men wither. Without patrons, expect ranks stripped away. Win the grader's favor and every wish is granted. Hence top grades never reach humble houses; bottom grades never touch great lineages. Any exception stems from back-room dealing. Slighting the throne and mocking the age—this is how chaos begins. That is the first way the system undermines good rule.
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置州都者，取州里清議，咸所歸服，將以鎮異同，一言議。 不謂一人之身，了一州之才，一人不審便坐之。 若然，自仲尼以上，至於庖犧，莫不有失，則皆不堪，何獨責于中人者哉！ 若殊不修，自可更選。 今重其任而輕其人，所立品格，還訪刁攸。 攸非州里之所歸，非職分之所置。 今訪之，歸正於所不服，決事於所不職，以長讒構之源，以生乖爭之兆，似非立都之本旨，理俗之深防也。 主者既善刁攸，攸之所下而復選以二千石，已有數人。 劉良上攸之所下，石公罪攸之所行，駁違之論橫於州里，嫌讎之隙結于大臣。 夫桑妾之訟，禍及吳、楚； 鬥雞之變，難興魯邦。 況乃人倫交爭而部黨興，刑獄滋生而禍根結。 損政之道二也。
Provincial graders were meant to voice local consensus and settle disputes—one standard for the circuit. That never meant one man could judge every talent in a province or condemn another on a single slip. If that were the standard, even Confucius and Fuxi would fail—why single out ordinary officers? When a man proves utterly unfit, replace him. Today the title weighs heavy while the holder counts for little—the grades still circle back to Diao You. You commands neither local trust nor an office built for this task. Consulting him forces acceptance where none exists and rulings beyond his brief—it feeds slander and quarrels, betraying why the office was created or how to steady popular conduct. The chief favors You; several men You downgraded have already been picked for governor posts. Liu Liang appealed You's demotions; Minister Shi condemned You's actions—cross-purposes shattered the province and embittered high ministers. A quarrel over mulberry girls embroiled Wu and Chu; a cockfight nearly ruined Lu. How much worse when kin feud, factions sprout, lawsuits breed, and calamity takes root. That is the second wound to good rule.
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本立格之體，將謂人倫有序，若貫魚成次也。 為九品者，取下者為格，謂才德有優劣，倫輩有首尾。 今之中正，務自遠者，則抑割一國，使無上人； 穢劣下比，則拔舉非次，並容其身。 公以為格，坐成其私。 君子無大小之怨，官政無繩奸之防。 使得上欺明主，下亂人倫。 乃使優劣易地，首尾倒錯。 推貴異之器，使在凡品之下，負戴不肖，越在成人之首。 損政之道三也。
The ranking system was meant to order society like fish strung on a cord. Nine-grade assessments treat the lower verdict as standard—talent and virtue differ, and cohorts stack high to low. Today's graders, chasing outsiders, will suppress an entire region until no local talent ranks high; pair base men down the list and they promote cronies out of turn while sheltering them. They wield public rank as cover and finish their private deals. Honest men swallow every slight; the bench offers no rope on villainy. So they hoodwink the throne above and unravel society below. Merit and mediocrity swap places; the order turns upside down. Rare talent is ranked below mediocrity; hopeless dolts vault above men of substance. That is the third blow to good rule.
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陛下踐阼，開天地之德，弘不諱之詔，納忠直之言，以覽天下之情，太平之基，不世之法也。 然嘗罰，自王公以至於庶人，無不加法。 置中正，委以一國之重，無嘗罰之防。 人心多故，清平者寡，故怨訟者眾。 聽之則告訐無已，禁絕則侵枉無極，與其理訟之煩，猶愈侵枉之害。 今禁訟訴，則杜一國之口，培一人之勢，使得縱橫，無所顧憚。 諸受枉者抱怨積直，獨不蒙天地無私之德，而長壅蔽於邪人之銓。 使上明不下照，下情不上聞。 損政之道四也。
Your Majesty's accession spread cosmic generosity, welcomed blunt counsel, and opened every grievance—the cornerstone of lasting peace. Rewards and punishments reach from princes to commoners—no one escapes the law. Yet we hand a state's fate to a regional grader with no reward or penalty to restrain him. Hearts breed endless excuses; few stay impartial, so lawsuits swarm. Hear every appeal and informers never rest; ban complaints and injustice runs wild—better the fuss of courts than unchecked wrong. Banning appeals gags a province and swells one man's power until he acts without scruple. The wronged nurse rage yet never see impartial Heaven—they stay trapped beneath crooked graders. So clarity never reaches below and truth never rises above. That is the fourth wound to good rule.
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昔在前聖之世，欲敦風俗，鎮靜百姓，隆鄉黨之義，崇六親之行，禮教庠序以相率，賢不肖於是見矣。 然鄉老書其善以獻天子，司馬論其能以官於職，有司考績以明黜陟。 故天下之人退而修本，州黨有德義，朝廷有公正，浮華邪佞無所容厝。 今一國之士多者千數，或流徙異邦，或取給殊方，面猶不識，況盡其才力！ 而中正知與不知，其當品狀，采譽於台府，納毀於流言。 任己則有不識之蔽，聽受則有彼此之偏。 所知者以愛憎奪其平，所不知者以人事亂其度； 既無鄉老紀行之譽，又非朝廷考績之課； 遂使進宮之人，棄近求遠，背本逐末。 位以求成，不由行立，品不校功，黨譽虛妄。 損政五也。
Ancient sages steadied custom by exalting village ties and kinship ritual—schools spread pattern, and talent showed plain. Elders recorded virtue for the throne; the bureau matched skill to office; ministries audited performance for promotions. So men cultivated themselves at home, villages kept moral debt straight, court judgments stayed fair, and poseurs found no foothold. Today a circuit may hold a thousand candidates—some wander abroad, some serve far away—clerks cannot know their faces, let alone their gifts. Graders know some men and miss others; profiles crib palace gossip and street slander. Trust himself and he blinds himself; trust rumor and faction pulls him. Men he favors bend his scales; strangers fall prey to backstage deals; They lack elder appraisals and palace merit audits; so candidates forsake home ties for distant patrons and chase reputation over substance. Office follows lobbying, not behavior; ranks ignore results; clique praise lies hollow. That is the fifth scourge on government.
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凡所以立品設狀者，求人才以理物也，非虛飾名譽，相為好醜。 雖孝悌之行，不施朝廷，故門外之事，以義斷恩。 既以在官，職有大小，事有劇易，各有功報，此人才之實效，功分之所得也。 今則反之，於限當報，雖職之高，還附卑品，無績於官，而獲高敘，是為抑功實而隆虛名也。 上奪天朝考績之分，下長浮華朋黨之士。 損政六也。
Profiles exist to place talent for governing things—not to varnish reputations or swap favors. Filial duty belongs at home; outside the gate right overrides kinship. In office, duties differ in weight and strain—each post earns its outcome; that is measurable merit. Today it runs backward: merit goes unrewarded—high office sinks low on the rolls while drones gain top ranks—real service starves while hollow fame thrives. Above it steals the court's power to judge merit; below it breeds flashy coteries. That is the sixth injury to the state.
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凡官不同事，人不同能，得其能則成，失其能則敗。 今品不狀才能之所宜，而以九等為例。 以品取人，或非才能之所長； 以狀取人，則為本品之所限。 若狀得其實，猶品狀相妨，系縶選舉，使不得精於才宜。 況今九品，所疏則削其長，所親則飾其短。 徒結白論，以為虛譽，則品不料能，百揆何以得理，萬機何以得修？ 損政七也。
Posts demand different skills; match skill to seat and rule thrives—mismatch and it fails. Profiles no longer map talent to tasks—they ape nine pigeonholes. Grade-driven picks may miss a man's true strength; profile-driven picks stay chained to the original rank. Even accurate profiles clash with grades and throttle appointments until fit is guesswork. Worse still, graders slash rivals' gifts and varnish allies' flaws. Empty forms stack up as fame—grades blind to capacity—how may the ministries stay ordered or business stay sound? That is the seventh ruin for rule.
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前九品詔書，善惡必書，以為褒貶，當時天下，少有所忌。 今之九品，所下不彰其罪，所上不列其善，廢褒貶之義，任愛憎之斷，清濁同流，以植其私。 故反違前品，大其形勢，以驅動眾人，使必歸己。 進者無功以表勸，退者無惡以成懲。 懲勸不明，則風俗污濁，天下人焉得不解德行而銳人事？ 損政八也。
Earlier edicts logged good and evil for praise or blame—few under Heaven dared abuse the power. Today's ranks hide faults below and virtues above—no praise or blame—judgment tracks spite until pure and foul merge for private gain. So they flout prior verdicts, swell their clout, herd everyone, and force clients into line. Promotions reward no virtue; demotions punish no vice. Unclear carrots and sticks foul custom—how will anyone prize character over lobbying? That is the eighth calamity for government.
17
由此論之，選中正而非其人，授權勢而無嘗罰，或缺中正而無禁檢，故邪黨得肆，枉濫縱橫。 雖職名中正，實為奸府； 事名九品，而有八損。 或恨結於親親，猜生於骨肉，當身困於敵讎，子孫離其殃咎。 斯乃歷世之患，非徒當今之害也。 是以時主觀時立法，防奸消亂，靡有常制，故周因于殷，有所損益。 至於中正九品，上聖古賢皆所不為，豈蔽於此事而有不周哉，將以政化之宜無取於此也。 自魏立以來，未見其得人之功，而生讎薄之累。 毀風敗俗，無益於化，古今之失，莫大於此。 愚臣以為宜罷中正，除九品，棄魏氏之弊法，立一代之美制。
Thus wrong men hold the rectifier's seat, power rides without accountability, or monitors vanish—factions run wild and injustice spreads. The title says impartial judge; the truth is a nest of intrigue; the system boasts nine grades yet delivers eight wounds. Kin turn to enemies, bones rankle against flesh, men rot amid vendettas, and posterity pays the price. This curse spans dynasties—not a flaw of our moment alone. Wise rulers rewrite law for their hour to curb plotters—no code lasts forever—Zhou borrowed from Yin yet revised it. Highest sages never used nine-grade rectifiers—not because they overlooked it but because sound rule needs nothing from it. Since Wei invented it, talent gains are invisible while spite piles high. It poisons morals and aids culture not at all—no policy ever failed worse. Your servant urges abolishing regional graders and nine ranks—discard Wei's broken statute and craft institutions worthy of this age.
18
疏奏，優詔答之。 後司空衛瓘等亦共表宜省九品，復古鄉議里選。 帝竟不施行。
The throne answered with a gracious edict. Later Wei Guan and others jointly urged cutting nine ranks and reviving village recommendation. The emperor never acted on it.
19
毅夙夜在公，坐而待旦，言議切直，無所曲撓，為朝野之所式瞻。 嘗散齋而疾，其妻省之，毅便奏加妻罪而請解齋。 妻子有過，立加杖捶，其公正如此。 然以峭直，故不至公輔。 帝以毅清貧，賜錢三十萬，日給米肉。 年七十，告老。 久之，見許，以光祿大夫歸第，門施行馬，復賜錢百萬。
Yi rose before dawn for office, spoke bluntly, bowed to no pressure, and became the standard court and countryside admired. During a purification fast he fell ill; when his wife visited he memorialized her trespass and asked to break the fast. He beat wife or children on the spot for fault—such was his severity. His abrupt honesty barred him from chief counselor posts. The emperor, pitying his austerity, granted three hundred thousand cash plus daily rice and meat. At seventy he asked to retire. Eventually permitted, he retired as supernumerary minister with carriage rails before his gate and another million in silver.
20
後司徒舉毅為青州大中正，尚書以毅懸車致仕，不宜勞以碎務。 陳留相樂安孫尹表曰：「禮，凡卑者執勞，尊得居逸，是順敘之宜也。 司徒魏舒、司隸校尉嚴詢與毅年齒相近，往者同為散騎常侍，後分授外內之職，資途所經，出處一致。 今詢管四十萬戶州，兼董司百僚，總攝機要，舒所統殷廣，兼執九品，銓十六州論議，主者不以為劇。 毅但以知一州，便謂不宜累以碎事，於毅太優，詢、舒太劣。 若以前聽致仕，不宜復與遷授位者，故光祿大夫鄭袤為司空是也。 夫知人則哲，惟帝難之。 尚可復委以宰輔之任，不可諮以人倫之論，臣竊所未安。 昔鄭武公年過八十，入為周司徒，雖過懸車之年，必有可用。 毅前為司隸，直法不撓，當朝之臣，多所按劾。 諺曰：'受堯之誅，不能稱堯。 '直臣無黨，古今所悉。 是以汲黯死于淮陽，董仲舒裁為諸侯之相。 而毅獨遭聖明，不離輦轂，當世之士咸以為榮。 毅雖身偏有風疾，而志氣聰明，一州品第，不足勞其思慮。 毅疾惡之心小過，主者必疑其論議傷物，故高其優禮，令去事實，此為機閣毅，使絕人倫之路也。 臣州茂德惟毅，越毅不用，則清談倒錯矣。」
The steward later nominated Yi as Qingzhou's chief rectifier; the ministry argued his carriage hung idle in retirement—petty chores ill suited him. Sun Yin of Chenliu wrote: "Rite bids inferiors bear toil and superiors enjoy ease—that is proper order. Wei Shu, Yan Xun, and Yi are peers—once fellow attendants, later split between inner and outer posts along parallel careers. Yan Xun runs a four-hundred-thousand-household circuit, audits the bureaucracy, and guards secrets; Wei Shu commands wider territory, grades nine ranks across sixteen provinces—nobody calls their burden light. Yet Yi may rate one province and you call that too tedious—sparing him insults Yan and Wei. If retirees must never take new posts, why did Zheng Mao rise to minister of works? Knowing men is wisdom itself—even emperors stumble over it. You would trust him with chief ministership yet deny him voice on human rankings—your servant finds that unsettling. Duke Wu of Zheng became Zhou's steward past eighty—beyond retiring age yet indispensable. Yi headed the metropolitan office—inflexible in law—and impeached hosts of sitting ministers. The proverb runs: "Men you punish will not sing your praises like Yao." Straight ministers keep no clique—always thus. So Ji An died in provincial exile and Dong Zhongshu sank to tutoring a prince. Yet Yi alone stayed beside the capital carriages under an enlightened throne—the age counted him blessed. Though palsy wracks his frame, his mind stays lucid—grading one circuit hardly strains him. Yi's zeal against vice border sharp; officials fear his verdicts wound men—so they heap empty honors to strip him of real duty, a bureaucratic snare that bars him from judging character. Our circuit's finest talent is Yi alone—skip him and every honest verdict collapses."
21
於是青州自二品已上憑毅取正。 光祿勳石鑒等共奏曰：「謹按陳留相孫尹表及與臣等書如左。 臣州履境海岱，而參風齊、魯，故人俗務本，而世敦德讓，今雖不充於舊，而遺訓猶存，是以人倫歸行，士識所守也。 前被司徒符，當參舉州大中正。 僉以光祿大夫毅，純孝至素，著在鄉閭。 忠允亮直，竭於事上，仕不為榮，惟期盡節。 正身率道，崇公忘私，行高義明，出處同揆。 故能令義士宗其風景，州閭歸其清流。 雖年耆偏疾，而神明克壯，實臣州人士所思准系者矣。 誠以毅之明格，能不言而信，風之所動，清濁必偃，以稱一州咸同之望故也。 竊以為禮賢尚德，教之大典，王制奪與，動為開塞，而士之所歸，人倫為大。 臣等虛劣，雖言廢於前，今承尹書，敢不列啟。 按尹所執，非惟惜名議於毅之身，亦通陳朝宜奪與大准。 以為尹言當否，應蒙評議。」
Thereafter everyone from second rank up in Qingzhou accepted Yi as final arbiter. Minister Shi Jian and colleagues memorialized: "We append Prefect Sun Yin's papers herewith. Our land skirts sea and Tai and breathes Qi-Lu culture—people cling to subsistence and ritual yielding; though faded, ancient lessons linger, so moral order holds and scholars keep their standards. The steward's warrant charged us to nominate the provincial chief rectifier. All backed Yi—pure grief at home, famed through every lane. He serves superiors to exhaustion without craving glory—only duty matters. He sets the example, prefers public good over private gain, and walks what he preaches. Men of principle imitate him; villages rally to his upright judgment. Old and partly sick, his mind stays fierce—the circuit stakes its standards on him. His moral clarity needs no speeches—where his breeze blows, foul and fair bend—and that suits every expectation in the province. Honoring talent anchors education; royal decrees open or close careers—yet nothing outweighs ordering society. We are mean advisors whose plea failed once—Yin's letter leaves us no choice but to memorialize again. Yin speaks not only for Yi's reputation—he lays out how the throne should grant or withhold rank in principle. His Excellency's argument deserves full debate."
22
由是毅遂為州都，銓正人流，清濁區別，其所彈貶，自親貴者始。 太康六年卒，武帝撫幾驚曰：「失吾名臣，不得生作三公！」 即贈儀同三司，使者監護喪事。 羽林左監北海王宮上疏曰：「中詔以毅忠允匪躬，贈班台司，斯誠聖朝考績以毅著勳之美事也。 臣謹按，諡者行之跡，而號者功之表。 今毅功德並立，而有號無諡，於義不體。 臣竊以《春秋》之事求之，諡法主於行而不系爵。 然漢、魏相承，爵非列侯，則皆沒而高行，不加之諡，至使三事之賢臣，不如野戰之將。 銘跡所殊，臣願聖世舉《春秋》之遠制，改列爵之舊限，使夫功行之實不相掩替，則莫不率賴。 若以革舊毀制，非所倉卒，則毅之忠益，雖不攻城掠地，論德進爵，亦應在例。 臣敢惟行甫請周之義，謹牒毅功行如石。」 帝出其表使八坐議之，多同宮議。 奏寢不報。 二子：暾、總。
Yi took the provincial seat, sorted candidates, split worthy from worthless, and struck kin and grandees first. He died in Taikang 6; Emperor Wu smacked the rail: "We lost a pillar—he never lived to join the Three Dukes! They granted him parity with the Three Offices with courtiers overseeing his obsequies. Colonel Wang Gong wrote: "The palace honors Yi's loyalty—posthumous Three Offices rank crowns real service. Posthumous names record conduct; noble titles record deeds. Yi earned both virtue and achievement yet lacks a posthumous name—that breaks precedent. The Spring and Autumn ties posthumous names to deeds, not to pedigree. Han and Wei withheld posthumous praise from anyone below full marquis—so loyal ministers ranked beneath battlefield brutes. Your servant asks this court to revive ancient naming rules so merit matches tribute—none would doubt Your fairness. If reform cannot come overnight, Yi's steadfast counsel—though no conqueror—still merits posthumous grace by precedent. Following the precedent of humble memorials to Zhou, Your servant lists Yi's deeds below. The emperor circulated Wang Gong's text to the Eight Seats—most concurred. The memorial vanished into silence—no answer came. He left two sons: Liu Tun and Liu Zong.
24
子暾
His son Liu Tun
25
=暾字長升，正直有父風。 太康初為博士，會議齊王攸之國，加崇典禮，暾與諸博士坐議迕旨。 武帝大怒，收暾等付廷尉。 會赦得出，免官。 初，暾父毅疾馮紞奸佞，欲奏其罪，未果而卒。 至是，紞位宦日隆，暾慨然曰：「使先人在，不令紞得無患。」
Liu Tun, styled Changsheng, was blunt like his father. Early in Taikang he served as erudite; debating Prince You's investiture he challenged imperial policy with his colleagues. Emperor Wu jailed Tun and the classicists in the ministry of justice. An amnesty freed him but stripped his post. His father Yi had meant to impeach Feng Dan but died first. Now Feng Dan flourished; Tun muttered that his father would never have spared him.
26
後為酸棗令，轉侍御史。 會司徒王渾主簿劉輿獄辭連暾，將收付廷尉。 渾不欲使府有過，欲距劾自舉之。 與暾更相曲直，渾怒，便遜位還第。 暾乃奏渾曰：「謹按司徒王渾，蒙國厚恩，備位鼎司，不能上佐天子，調和陰陽，下遂萬物之宜，使卿大夫各得其所。 敢因劉輿拒扞詔使，私欲大府興長獄訟。 昔陳平不答漢文之問，邴吉不問死人之變，誠得宰相之體也。 既興刑獄，怨懟而退，舉動輕速，無大臣之節，請免渾官。 右長史、楊丘亭侯劉肇，便辟善柔，苟于阿順，請大鴻臚削爵土。」 諸聞暾此奏者，皆歎美之。
He governed Suanzao, then joined the censorate. Liu Yu's confession tied Tun to Wang Hun's bureau scandal—arrest loomed. Wang Hun feared blame on his office and tried to preempt the charge himself. They quarreled until Wang Hun quit his post in fury. Tun impeached Wang Hun for failing as steward—neither tuning cosmos nor sorting officers. He abused Liu Yu's case to stall envoys and breed lawsuits from his ministry. Chen Ping kept silent before Emperor Wen; Bing Ji ignored roadside corpses—true chief ministers know their scope. Having stirred courts then storming off—hardly ministerial conduct—strip Wang Hun's post. Chief clerk Liu Zhao—slick and servile—strip his title through the herald. Everyone who read Tun's memorial applauded.
27
其後武庫火，尚書郭彰率百人自衛而不救火，暾正色詰之。 彰怒曰：「我能截君角也。」 暾勃然謂彰曰：「君何敢恃寵作威作福，天子法冠而欲截角乎！」 求紙筆奏之，彰伏不敢言，眾人解釋，乃止。 彰久貴豪侈，每出輒眾百餘人。 自此之後，務從簡素。
When the arsenal caught fire Guo Zhang mustered guards for himself instead of buckets—Tun challenged him. Guo Zhang sneered that he could clip Tun's cap horn. Tun thundered back that favorites dare not mangle the imperial cap badge. He drafted an impeachment on the spot—Guo Zhang shrank mute until peers smoothed things over. Guo Zhang traveled with a hundred retainers for show. After Tun's rebuke he thinned his retinue.
28
暾遷太原內史，趙王倫篡位，假征虜將軍，不受，與三王共舉義。 惠帝復阼，暾為左丞，正色立朝，三台清肅。 尋兼御史中丞，奏免尚書僕射、東安公繇及王粹、董艾等十餘人。 朝廷嘉之，遂即真。 遷中庶子、左衛將軍、司隸校尉，奏免武陵王澹及何綏、劉坦、溫畿、李晅等。 長沙王乂討齊王冏，暾豫謀，封朱虛縣公，千八百戶。 乂死，坐免。 頃之，復為司隸。
Made Taiyuan steward, he refused usurper Lun's general's baton and marched with the allied princes. Under restored Emperor Hui he served as left aide—grim propriety quieted the three bureaus. He soon impeached Wang Yun—Wang Cui—Dong Ai and a dozen more. The court approved and confirmed his posts. He rose to heir adviser—left guard colonel—metropolitan governor—and cashiered Prince Dan and several ministers. He helped Prince Yi against Prince Jiong and earned a Zhuxu dukedom with eighteen hundred households. When Yi fell Tun lost office too. Soon he returned as metropolitan governor.
29
及惠帝之幸長安也，留暾守洛陽。 河間王顒遣使鴆羊皇后，暾乃與留台僕射荀藩、河南尹周馥等上表，理后無罪。 語在《后傳》。 顒見表，大怒，遣陳顏、呂朗率騎五千收暾，暾東奔高密王略。 會劉根作逆，略以暾為大都督，加鎮軍將軍討根。 暾戰失利，還洛。 至酸棗，值東海王越奉迎大駕。 及帝還洛，羊-{后}-反宮。 -{后}-遣使謝暾曰：「賴劉司隸忠誠之志，得有今日。」 以舊勳復封爵，加光祿大夫。
Emperor Hui fled west—Tun stayed to hold Luoyang. Prince Yong tried to poison Empress Yang—Tun joined Xun Fan and Zhou Fu to plead her cause. (See the "Biography of Empress Yang.") Yong sent riders to arrest Tun—who fled to Prince Lue. During Liu Gen's revolt Lue named Tun commander-in-chief to crush him. He lost and fell back to Luoyang. At Suanzao he met Prince Yue escorting the throne eastward. When the emperor came home Empress Yang reentered the palace. The empress thanked Tun for loyalty that restored her. Her gratitude restored his fief and added a supernumerary minister title.
30
暾妻前卒，先陪陵葬。 子更生初婚，家法，婦當拜墓，攜賓客親屬數十乘，載酒食而行。 先是，洛陽令王棱為越所信，而輕暾，暾每欲繩之，棱以為怨。 時劉聰、王彌屯河北，京邑危懼。 棱告越，雲暾與彌鄉親而欲投之。 越嚴騎將追暾，右長史傅宣明暾不然。 暾聞之，未至墓而反，以正義責越，越甚慚。
His wife predeceased him and lay in the tomb park. When son Gengsheng wed—custom demanded the bride bow at the tomb procession—dozens of carts with kin and wine. Magistrate Wang Ling—Prince Yue's favorite—mocked Tun—who meant to impeach him—spawning spite. Liu Cong and Wang Mi menaced the Yellow River—the capital panicked. Wang Ling told Yue that Tun—Wang Mi's fellow townsman—would desert. Yue almost sent riders until Fu Xuan swore Tun innocent. Tun turned back—rebuked Prince Yue—who flushed with shame.
31
及劉曜寇京師，以暾為撫軍將軍、假節、都督城守諸軍事。 曜退，遷尚書僕射。 越憚暾久居監司，又為眾情所歸，乃以為右光祿大夫，領太子少傅，加散騎常侍。 外示崇進，實奪其權。 懷帝又詔暾領衛尉，加特進。 後復以暾為司隸，加侍中。 暾五為司隸，允協物情故也。
When Liu Yao struck Luoyang Tun commanded defense as Pacifying Army general. After Yao left Tun became vice director of the right. Prince Yue feared Tun's long tenure as censor—named him tutor and attendant to sideline real power. The promotion looked grand—it stripped his authority. Emperor Huai made him guard captain and conferred the Special Advancement title. Later Tun returned as metropolitan governor with palace attendant rank. He served five tours as censor because the realm trusted him.
32
王彌入洛，百官殲焉。 彌以暾鄉里宿望，故免於難。 暾因說彌曰：「今英雄競起，九州幅裂，有不世之功者，宇內不容。 將軍自興兵已來，何攻不克，何戰不勝，而復與劉曜不協，宜思文種之禍，以范蠡為師。 且將軍可無帝王之意，東王本州，以觀時勢，上可以混一天下，下可以成鼎峙之事，豈失孫、劉乎！ 蒯通有言，將軍宜圖之。」 彌以為然，使暾於青州，與曹嶷謀，且徵之。 暾至東阿，為石勒遊騎所獲，見彌與嶷書而大怒，乃殺之。 暾有二子：佑、白。
When Wang Mi stormed Luoyang officials died wholesale. Wang Mi spared Tun out of hometown respect. Tun urged Mi: "Warlords carve the realm—without supreme merit none survives. You win every fight yet feud with Liu Yao—remember Wen Zhong's doom—study Fan Li's exit. Rule your native east—watch trends—unify or divide like Sun and Liu. Kuai Tong said as much—consider it. Wang Mi agreed—sent Tun east to bargain with Cao Yi. At Dong'e Shi Le's scouts seized Tun—found Mi's letters—and executed him. Survivors included sons Liu You and Liu Bai.
33
佑為太傅屬，白太子舍人。 白果烈有才用，東海王越忌之，竊遣上軍何倫率百餘人入暾第，為劫取財物，殺白而去。
You advised the grand tutor—Bai served the heir. Prince Yue feared fiery Liu Bai—sent He Lun to loot Tun's house and murder Bai under cover of theft.
35
子總
His son Liu Zong
36
=總字弘紀，好學直亮，叔父彪，位至北軍中候。
Liu Zong styled Hongji—studious and blunt—his uncle Biao reached colonel of the northern armies.
37
程衛
Cheng Wei
38
程衛，字長玄，廣平曲周人也。 少立操行，強正方嚴。 劉毅聞其名，辟為都官從事。 毅奏中護軍羊琇犯憲應死。 武帝與琇有舊，乃遣齊王攸喻毅，毅許之。 衛正色以為不可，逕自馳車入護軍營，收琇屬吏，考問陰私，先奏琇所犯狼藉，然後言於毅。 由是名振遐邇，百官厲行。 遂辟公府掾，遷尚事郎、侍御史，在職皆以事幹顯。 補洛陽令，歷安定、頓丘太守，所蒞著績。 卒於官。
Cheng Wei, styled Changxuan, came from Quzhou in Guangping. As a youth he was austere, blunt, and severe. Liu Yi recruited him as clerk for metropolitan capital offenses. Yi impeached Yang Xiu for breaking the law—a capital crime. The emperor, owing Yang Xiu a favor, had Prince You sway Yi—Yi relented. Cheng Wei refused, galloped into the guard camp, seized Yang Xiu’s staff, unearthed his secrets, and first reported the debacle to court—then told Yi. His fame shook the realm—officials snapped to propriety. He joined the high bureau, rose through palace posts, and made his mark in every role. He governed Luoyang, Anding, and Dunqiu with a strong record. He died in harness.
39
和嶠
He Jiao
40
和嶠，字長輿，汝南西平人也。 祖洽，魏尚書令。 父逌，魏吏部尚書。 嶠少有風格，慕舅夏侯玄之為人，厚自崇重。 有盛名于世，朝野許其能風俗，理人倫。 襲父爵上蔡伯，起家太子舍人。 累遷潁川太守，為政清簡，甚得百姓歡心。 太傅從事中郎庾敳見而歎曰：「嶠森森如千丈松，雖磥砢有節目，施之大廈，有棟樑之用。」 賈充亦重之，稱于武帝，入為給事黃門侍郎，遷中書令，帝深器遇之。 舊監令共車入朝，時荀勖為監，嶠鄙勖為人，以意氣加之，每同乘，高抗專車而坐。 乃使監令異車，自嶠始也。
He Jiao, styled Changyu, hailed from Xiping in Runan. His grandfather He Qia was Wei minister over the bureaucracy. His father He You held Wei’s ministry of personnel. From boyhood he carried himself like his uncle Xiahou Xuan—aloof and exacting. Court and countryside praised him for shaping manners and moral order. He succeeded the barony of Shangcai and entered service as heir‑apparent attendant. As Yingchuan prefect he ruled plainly and won the people. Yu Ai marveled: "He Jiao is a thousand‑foot pine—rough bark and all—yet palace timber. Jia Chong praised him to the throne; he entered the palace secretariat and became an imperial favorite. Overseer and director once rode together; Jiao scorned Xun Xu and insisted on a separate cart. Separate carts for overseer and director began with He Jiao.
41
吳平，以參謀議功，賜弟郁爵汝南亭侯。 嶠轉侍中，愈被親禮，與任愷、張華相善。 嶠見太子不令，因侍坐曰：「皇太子有淳古之風，而季世多偽，恐不了陛下家事。」 帝默然不答。 後與荀顗、荀勖同侍，帝曰：「太子近入朝，差長進，卿可俱詣之，粗及世事。」 即奉詔而還。 顗、勖並稱太子明識弘雅，誠如明詔。 嶠曰：「聖質如初耳！」 帝不悅而起。 嶠退居，恆懷慨歎，知不見用，猶不能已。 在御坐言及社稷，未嘗不以儲君為憂。 帝知其言忠，每不酬和。 後與嶠語，不及來事。 或以告賈妃，妃銜之。 太康末，為尚書，以母憂去職。
After Wu fell he shared credit with his brother Yu, who gained a pavilion marquisate. As palace attendant he grew closer to the throne and befriended Ren Kai and Zhang Hua. At leisure he warned that the crown prince seemed too rustic for a decadent age—unkind to the dynasty’s future. The emperor stayed silent. Later, with the Xuns at his side, he told them to coach the heir on statecraft. They bowed and withdrew. Xun Yi and Xun Xu flattered the prince’s polish. He Jiao said the heir had not improved a whit. The emperor rose in anger. He brooded—knowing his counsel spurned yet unable to stay mute. Whenever talk touched the realm’s fate he fretted over the heir. The emperor knew him faithful yet refused to engage. Later audiences skirted the succession entirely. Word reached Empress Jia—she nursed a grudge. Late in Taikang he headed the ministry until mourning his mother.
42
及惠帝即位，拜太子少傅，加散騎常侍、光祿大夫。 太子朝西宮，嶠從入。 賈后使帝問嶠曰：「卿昔謂我不了家事，今日定云何？」 嶠曰：「臣昔事先帝，曾有斯言。 言之不效，國之福也。 臣敢逃其罪乎！」 卒，贈金紫光祿大夫，加金章紫綬，本位如前。 永平初，策諡曰簡。 嶠家產豐富，擬于王者，然性至吝，以是獲譏于世，杜預以為嶠有錢癖。 以弟郁子濟嗣，位至中書郎。
Under Emperor Hui he tutored the crown prince with added honorifics. He accompanied the heir to the western palace. Through the emperor she taunted him about his old warning. He Jiao answered that he had warned Emperor Wu long ago. That it proved false was the realm’s luck. May he suffer if he shirked duty! At death he received golden‑purple honors with seal and sash unchanged. Early Yongping era he was canonized “Jian.” He rivaled princes in wealth yet was famously stingy—Du Yu called it coin‑counting mania. He adopted nephew Ji who rose to the secretariat.
44
弟郁
His brother He Yu
45
=郁字仲輿，才望不及嶠，而以清幹稱，歷尚書左右僕射、中書令、尚書令。 洛陽傾沒，奔于苟晞，疾卒。
He Yu, styled Zhongyu, was leaner in fame than He Jiao but famed for efficiency—he rose to chief minister posts. When Luoyang fell he fled to Gou Xi and died sick.
46
武陔
Wu Gai
47
武陔，字元夏，沛國竹邑人也。 父周，魏衛尉。 陔沈敏有器量，早獲時譽，與二弟韶叔夏、茂季夏並總角知名，雖諸父兄弟及鄉閭宿望，莫能覺其優劣。 同郡劉公榮有知人之鑒，常造周，周見其三子焉。 公榮曰：「皆國士也。 元夏最優，有輔佐之才，陳力就列，可為亞公。 叔夏、季夏不減常伯、納言也。」
Wu Gai, styled Yuanxia, came from Zhuyi in Pei commandery. His father Wu Zhou was Wei captain of the guards. With brothers Shao and Mao he was celebrated since boyhood—even elders could not rank them. Liu Gongrong of his county visited their father to judge the boys. Liu said all three were national talents. Yuanxia topped them—ministerial timber next to the Three Dukes. The younger two matched senior ministers."
48
陔少好人倫，與潁川陳泰友善。 魏明帝世，累遷下邳太守。 景帝為大將軍，引為從事中郎，累遷司隸校尉，轉太僕卿。 初封亭侯，五等建，改封薛縣侯。 文帝甚親重之，數與詮論時人。 嘗問陳泰孰若其父群，陔各稱其所長，以為群、泰略無優劣，帝然之。 泰始初，拜尚書，掌吏部，遷左僕射、左光祿大夫、開府儀同三司。 陔以宿齒舊臣，名位隆重，自以無佐命之功，又在魏已為大臣，不得已而居位，深懷遜讓，終始全潔，當世以為美談。 卒於位，諡曰定。 子輔嗣。
Wu Gai loved appraising talent and befriended Chen Tai. Under Wei Mingdi he rose to Xiapi prefect. Prince Jing made him adjutant; he became metropolitan governor then minister of the imperial stud. First a pavilion lord, he became marquis of Xue under the new rank system. Emperor Wen cherished him and debated character with him often. Asked to compare Chen Tai to Chen Qun, Wu Gai praised both equally—Wen agreed. Early Taishi he ran personnel, rose to vice director, grand messenger, and Three Offices parity. An elder statesman without founding laurels, he stayed humble in Wei-Jin transition—admired for unstained dignity. He died in office as “Ding.” His son Wu Fu inherited.
50
弟韶
His brother Wu Shao
51
=韶歷吏部郎、太子右衛率、散騎常侍。
Wu Shao rose through personnel, heir guard colonel, and attendant posts.
53
弟茂
His brother Wu Mao
54
=茂以德素稱，名亞於陔，為上洛太守、散騎常侍、侍中、尚書。 潁川荀愷年少於茂，即武帝姑子，自負貴戚，欲與茂交，距而不答，由是致怨。 及楊駿誅，愷時為僕射，以茂駿之姨弟，陷為逆黨，遂見害。 茂清正方直，聞於朝野，一旦枉酷，天下傷焉。 侍中傅祗上申明之，後追贈光祿勳。
Wu Mao, famed for plain virtue just below Wu Gai, governed Shangluo and reached the ministries. The younger Xun Kai snubbed Wu Mao’s refusal of his patronizing friendship. After Yang Jun fell, Xun Kai framed Wu Mao as Jun’s kin and had him killed. Wu Mao’s wrongful death shocked the realm. Fu Zhi cleared his name and won posthumous honors.
55
任愷
Ren Kai
56
任愷，字元褒，樂安博昌人也。 父昊，魏太常。 愷少有識量，尚魏明帝女，累遷中書侍郎、員外散騎常侍。 晉國建，為侍中，封昌國縣侯。
Ren Kai, styled Yuanbao, came from Bochang in Le’an. His father Ren Hao was Wei minister of ceremonies. He married a Wei princess and rose through secretariat and attendant posts. When Jin was founded he became palace attendant and marquis of Changguo.
57
愷有經國之幹，萬機大小多管綜之。 性忠正，以社稷為己任，帝器而昵之，政事多諮焉。 泰始初，鄭沖、王祥、何曾、荀顗、裴秀等各以老疾歸第。 帝優寵大臣，不欲勞以筋力，數遣愷諭旨于諸公，諮以當世大政，參議得失。 愷惡賈充之為人也，不欲令久執朝政，每裁抑焉。 充病之，不知所為。 後承間言愷忠貞局正，宜在東宮，使護太子。 帝從之，以為太子少傅，而侍中如故，充計畫不行。 會秦、雍寇擾，天子以為憂。 愷因曰：「秦、涼覆敗，關右騷動，此誠國家之所深慮。 宜速鎮撫，使人心有庇。 自非威望重臣有計略者，無以康西土也。」 帝曰：「誰可任者？」 愷曰：「賈充其人也。」 中書令庾純亦言之，於是詔充西鎮長安。 充用荀勖計得留。
He mastered statecraft large and small. Loyal and blunt, he advised Emperor Wu on everything. Early Taishi the elder ministers retired ill. Wu sent Ren Kai to relay policy to the retired elders. He worked to curb Jia Chong’s power. Jia Chong despaired. He urged posting Ren Kai to tutor the heir—ostensibly praise. The emperor made Ren Kai heir tutor—blocking Jia’s scheme to exile rivals. Qinzhou and Yongzhou revolted—Wu fretted. Ren Kai called the northwest collapse dire. It needed a credible marshal to reassure the west. Only a heavyweight commander could calm it. “Who fits?” asked the emperor. “Jia Chong,” said Ren Kai—setting a trap. Yu Chun echoed the call—so Jia Chong was ordered west. Jia Chong used Xun Xu’s ruse to remain at court.
58
充既為帝所遇，欲專名勢，而庾純、張華、溫顒、向秀、和嶠之徒皆與愷善，楊珧、王恂、華廙等充所親敬，於是朋黨紛然。 帝知之，召充、愷宴於式乾殿，而謂充等曰：「朝廷宜一，大臣當和。」 充、愷各拜謝而罷。 既而充、愷等以帝已知之而不責，結怨愈深，外相崇重，內甚不平。 或為充謀曰：「愷總門下樞要，得與上親接，宜啟令典選，便得漸疏，此一都令史事耳。 且九流難精，間隙易乘。」 充因稱愷才能，宜在官人之職。 帝不之疑，謂充舉得其才。 即日以愷為吏部尚書，加奉車都尉。
Favored at court, Jia Chong craved control while Ren Kai moved with He Jiao and Zhang Hua—rival patrons split the faction map. Wu summoned both factions to Shiqian Hall and demanded unity. Both sides bowed off and left. Assured the throne would not punish them, Jia Chong and Ren Kai feigned respect while hating each other more. A counselor urged posting Ren Kai to personnel to edge him from the privy chamber. Nine grades invite slipups—easy targets for smears. Jia Chong praised Ren Kai’s fitness for personnel. Emperor Wu trusted the nomination. Ren Kai became minister of personnel with added military rank.
59
愷既在尚書，選舉公平，盡心所職，然侍覲轉希。 充與荀勖、馮紞承間浸潤，謂愷豪侈，用御食器。 充遣尚書右僕射、高陽王珪奏愷，遂免官。 有司收太官宰人檢核，是愷妻齊長公主得賜魏時御器也。 愷既免而譭謗益至，帝漸薄之。 然山濤明愷為人通敏有智局，舉為河南尹。 坐賊發不獲，又免官。 復遷光祿勳。
He ran fair exams but rarely saw the emperor. Jia Chong, Xun Xu, and Feng Dan whispered that Ren Kai used imperial tableware. They had Prince Gui impeach him—Ren Kai lost his post. Investigators found only wedding gifts from Wei—Princess Chang’s old imperial vessels. Vindicated yet still smeared, Ren Kai fell from favor. Shan Tao still named him Henan governor. He lost the post when bandits escaped capture. He returned as superintendent of the household.
60
愷素有識鑒，加以在公勤恪，甚得朝野稱譽。 而賈充朋黨又諷有司奏愷與立進令劉友交關。 事下尚書，愷對不伏。 尚書杜友、廷尉劉良並忠公士也，知愷為充所抑，欲申理之，故遲留而未斷，以是愷及友、良皆免官。 愷既失職，乃縱酒耽樂，極滋味以自奉養。 初，何劭以公子奢侈，每食必盡四方珍饌，愷乃逾之，一食萬錢，猶云無可下箸處。 愷時因朝請，帝或慰諭之，愷初無復言，惟泣而已。 後起為太僕，轉太常。
Ren Kai’s discernment and diligence won wide praise. Jia’s clique tied him to Prefect Liu You. Ren Kai pleaded innocent before the ministry. Du You and Liu Liang stalled to clear him—all three were cashiered. Out of office he drowned in wine and food. He outspent He Shao’s legendary feasts—ten thousand cash per sitting yet claiming nothing worth eating. At audiences the emperor consoled him—Ren Kai could only weep. He returned as grand coachman then minister of ceremonies.
61
初，魏舒雖歷位郡守，而未被任遇，愷為侍中，薦舒為散騎常侍。 至是舒為右光祿、開府，領司徒，帝臨軒使愷拜授。 舒雖以弘量寬簡為稱，時以愷有佐世器局，而舒登三公，愷止守散卿，莫不為之憤歎也。 愷不得志，竟以憂卒，時年六十一，諡曰元，子罕嗣。
Ren Kai once lifted Wei Shu from obscurity to the attendant corps. Now Wei Shu stood above him as minister—Emperor Wu made Ren Kai hand him the seal. People resented that Shu surpassed the man who once sponsored him. He died heartsick at sixty-one—canonized Yuan—son Ren Han inherited.
63
子罕
His son Ren Han
64
=罕字子倫，幼有門風，才望不及愷，以淑行致稱，為清平佳士。 歷黃門侍郎、散騎常侍、兗州刺史、大鴻臚。
Ren Han, styled Zilun, lacked his father’s fame but won praise as a sober gentleman. He rose through the palace to grand herald.
65
崔洪
Cui Hong
66
崔洪，字良伯，博陵安平人也。 高祖寔，著名漢代。 父贊，魏吏部尚書、左僕射，以雅量見稱。 洪少以清厲顯名，骨鯁不同於物，人之有過，輒面折之，而退無後言。 武帝世，為御史治書。 時長樂馮恢父為弘農太守，愛少子淑，欲以爵傳之。 恢父終，服闋，乃還鄉里，結草為廬，陽喑不能言，淑得襲爵。 恢始仕為博士祭酒，散騎常侍翟嬰薦恢高行邁俗，侔繼古烈。 洪奏恢不敦儒素，令學生番直左右，雖有讓侯微善，不得稱無倫輩，嬰為浮華之目。 遂免嬰官，朝廷憚之。 尋為尚書左丞，時人為之語曰：「叢生棘刺，來自博陵。 在南為鷂，在北為鷹。」 選吏部尚書，舉用甄明，門無私謁。 薦雍州刺史郤詵代己為左丞。 詵後糾洪，洪謂人曰：「我舉郤丞而還奏我，是挽弩自射也。」 詵聞曰：「昔趙宣子任韓厥為司馬，以軍法戮宣子之僕。 宣子謂諸大夫曰：'可賀我矣，我選厥也任其事。 '崔侯為國舉才，我以才見舉，惟官是視，各明至公，何故私言乃至此！」 洪聞其言而重之。
Cui Hong, styled Liangbo, came from Anping in Boling. Ancestor Cui Shi was celebrated under the Han. His father Cui Zan led Wei personnel and was famed for equanimity. He was blunt—scolding faults to one’s face yet silent behind backs. Under Emperor Wu he served as legal editorial clerk. Feng Hui’s father planned to disinherit his heir for a younger son. The heir feigned muteness in a grass hut so his brother stole the title. Feng Hui won praise as a rustic sage—Zhai Ying hailed him. Cui Hong argued Feng Hui’s stunt disgraced scholarship—Zhai Ying’s praise was mere fashion. Zhai Ying fell—officials dreaded Cui Hong. Soon vice minister spawned a rhyme: "Thorns from Boling— south as goshawk—north as eagle." As minister of personnel he barred private pleading. He named Xi Shen of Yongzhou to succeed him as vice minister. Xi Shen impeached his patron—Cui Hong likened it to shooting oneself. Xi Shen cited Zhao Dun and Han Jue—loyal officers punish even patrons’ servants. Zhao Dun rejoiced at Han Jue’s integrity. Xi Shen said merit matters—not personal debt. Cui Hong respected the reply.
67
洪口不言貨財，手不執珠玉。 汝南王亮常晏公卿，以琉璃鐘行酒。 酒及洪，洪不執。 亮問其故，對曰：「慮有執玉不趨之義故爾」。 然實乖其常性，故為詭說。 楊駿誅，洪與都水使者王佑親，坐見黜。 後為大司農，卒於官。
He neither hoarded coin nor fingered gems. Prince Liang feasted ministers with a glass wine bowl. Cui Hong refused the cup. He cited ritual modesty—holding jade requires solemn pace. He invented etiquette to mask stinginess. After Yang Jun fell—his tie to Wang You cost him rank. He ended as minister of agriculture.
69
子廓
His son Cui Kuo
70
=子廓，散騎侍郎，亦以正直稱。
Cui Kuo served as attendant—praised like his father.
71
郭奕
Guo Yi
72
郭奕，字大業，太原陽曲人也。 少有重名，山濤稱其高簡有雅量。 初為野王令，羊祜常過之，奕歎曰：「羊叔子何必減郭大業！」 少選復往，又歎曰：「羊叔子去人遠矣。」 遂送祜出界數百里，坐此免官。 咸熙末，為文帝相國主薄。 時鍾會反于蜀，荀勖即會之從甥，少長會家，勖為文帝掾，奕啟出之。 帝雖不用，然知其雅正。 武帝踐阼，初建東宮，以奕及鄭默並為中庶子。 遷右衛率、驍騎將軍，封平陵男。 咸寧初，遷雍州刺史、鷹揚將軍，尋假赤幢曲蓋、鼓吹。 奕有寡姊，隨奕之官，姊下僮僕多有奸犯，而為人所糾。 奕省按畢，曰：「大丈夫豈當以老姊求名？」 遂遣而不問。 時亭長李含有俊才，而門寒為豪族所排，奕用為別駕，含後果有名位，時以奕為知人。
Guo Yi, styled Daye, came from Yangqu in Taiyuan. Shan Tao admired his calm restraint. Hosting Yang Hu he boasted they were peers—then reconsidered. On reflection Yang Hu towered above ordinary men. He escorted Yang Hu hundreds of li past his border—lost his post for it. Late Wei he served Prince Zhao’s chief clerk. He urged removing Xun Xu—Zhong Hui’s kinsman—from Prince Zhao’s staff during Shu revolt. Prince Zhao noted his integrity despite rejecting the memo. Emperor Wu named him heir adjunct with Zheng Mo. He rose to guard colonel and cavalry general—Baron of Pingling. Early Xianning he governed Yongzhou with general’s banners and band. His widowed sister’s servants broke laws—others impeached him. He refused to trade on kinship for reputation. He released the matter—preserving family peace. He promoted clerk Li Han despite mighty families’ spite—later hailed as a judge of talent.
73
太康中，徵為尚書。 奕有重名，當世朝臣皆出其下。 時帝委任楊駿，奕表駿小器，不可任以社稷。 帝不聽，駿後果誅。 及奕疾病，詔賜錢二十萬，日給酒米。 卒，太常上諡為景。 有司議以貴賤不同號，諡與景皇同，不可，請諡曰穆。 詔曰：「諡所以旌德表行，按諡法一德不懈為簡。 奕忠毅清直，立德不渝。」 於是遂賜諡曰簡。
Taikang recalled him to the ministry. Peers ranked beneath his stature. He warned that Yang Jun was too small for state duty. Wu ignored him—Yang Jun soon died. Illness brought imperial stipends of cash and grain. The ministry first proposed “Jing.” Court noted “Jing” matched Emperor Jing—requested “Mu” instead. The throne cited the canon “steady”—Jian. Guo Yi stayed loyal and lucid to the end. He was canonized “Jian.”
74
侯史光
Houshi Guang
75
侯史光，字孝明，東萊掖人也。 幼有才悟，受學于同縣劉夏。 舉孝廉，州辟別駕。 咸熙初，為洛陽典農中郎將，封關中侯。 泰始初，拜散騎常侍，尋兼侍中。 與皇甫陶、荀暠持節循省風俗，及還，奏事稱旨，轉城門校尉，進爵臨海侯。 其年詔曰：「光忠亮篤素，有居正執義之心，歷職內外，恪勤在公，其以光為御史中丞。 雖屈其列校之位，亦所以伸其司直之才。」 光在職寬而不縱。 太保王祥久疾廢朝，光奏請免之，詔優祥而寢光奏。 後遷少府，卒官，詔賜朝服一具、衣一襲、錢三十萬、布百匹。 及葬，又詔曰：「光厲志守約，有清忠之節。 家極貧儉，其賜錢五十萬。」 光儒學博古，歷官著績，文筆奏議皆有條理。 長子玄嗣，官至玄菟太守。 卒，子施嗣，東莞太守。
Houshi Guang, styled Xiaoming, came from Ye in Donglai. He studied under Liu Xia in his county. Recommended filial and honest—provincial aide. Early Xianxi he commanded Luoyang farming troops—Marquis Within the Pass. Taishi brought him to the attendant corps and palace. Touring the provinces with Huangfu Tao he earned promotion to colonel of the gates—Marquis of Linhai. An edict praised his integrity—named him imperial secretary. The sideways move showcased his censorial grit. As secretary he was firm but fair. He urged retiring Wang Xiang—the emperor honored Wang Xiang and ignored the memo. Promoted privy-treasury minister, he died in office; the court sent burial robes, thirty thousand cash, and a hundred bolts of cloth. His obsequies brought praise for austerity and loyalty. The throne added fifty thousand cash for his destitute household. Houshi Guang mastered classical lore; his memorials were models of clarity. Son Houshi Xuan rose to Xuantu prefect. He died; son Houshi Shi became Dongguan prefect.
76
何攀
He Pan
77
何攀，字惠興，蜀郡郫人也。 仕州為主薄。 屬刺史皇甫晏為牙門張弘所害，誣以大逆。 時攀適丁母喪，遂詣梁州拜表，證晏不反，故晏冤理得申。 王濬為益州，辟為別駕。 濬謀伐吳，遣攀奉表詣台，口陳事機，詔再引見，乃令張華與攀籌量進時討之宜。 濬兼遣攀過羊祜，面陳伐吳之策。 攀善於將命，帝善之，詔攀參濬軍事。 及孫皓降于濬，而王渾恚於後機，欲攻濬，攀勸濬送皓與渾，由是事解。 以攀為濬輔國司馬，封關內侯。 轉滎陽令，上便宜十事，甚得名稱。 除廷尉平。 時廷尉卿諸葛沖以攀蜀士，輕之，及共斷疑獄，沖始嘆服。 遷宣城太守，不行，轉散騎侍郎。 楊駿執政，多樹親屬，大開封嘗，欲以恩澤自衛。 攀以為非，乃與石崇共立議奏之。 語在崇傳。 帝不納。 以豫誅駿功，封西城侯，邑萬戶，賜絹萬匹，弟逢平卿侯，兄子逵關中侯。 攀固讓所封戶及絹之半，餘所受者分給中外宗親，略不入己。 遷翊軍校尉，頃之，出為東羌校尉。 徵為揚州刺史，在任三年，遷大司農。 轉兗州刺史，加鷹揚將軍，固讓不就。 太常成粲、左將軍卞粹勸攀蒞職，中詔又加切厲，攀竟稱疾不起。 及趙王倫篡位，遣使召攀，更稱疾篤。 倫怒，將誅之，攀不得已，扶疾赴召。 卒于洛陽，時年五十八。 攀居心平允，蒞官整肅，愛樂人物，敦儒貴才。 為梁、益二州中正，引致遺滯。 巴西陳壽、閻乂、犍為費立皆西州名士，並被鄉閭所謗，清議十餘年。 攀申明曲直，咸免冤濫。 攀雖居顯職，家甚貧素，無妾媵伎樂，惟以周窮濟乏為事。 子璋嗣，亦有父風。
He Pan, styled Huixing, came from Pi in Shu. He began as a provincial chief clerk. Inspector Huangfu Yan was murdered by Zhang Hong and smeared as a traitor. Though mourning his mother, he rode to Liangzhou and cleared Huangfu Yan’s name. Wang Jun made him provincial aide in Yi. He Pan carried Wang Jun’s Wu campaign memorial to Luoyang and planned timing with Zhang Hua. He also briefed Yang Hu in person on the Wu invasion. His diplomacy pleased Emperor Wu, who attached him to Wang Jun’s staff. When Wang Hun nearly attacked Wang Jun over Sun Hao’s surrender, He Pan urged handing the captive to Hun to prevent civil bloodshed. Wang Jun named him auxiliary marshal—Marquis Within the Pass. As Xingyang magistrate he offered ten reform memos and won fame. He became a justice assessor. Zhuge Chong sneered at his Shu origins until joint trials proved his genius. He declined Xuancheng but joined the attendant corps. Regent Yang Jun stuffed offices with kin and blanketed them with patents. He Pan and Shi Chong jointly condemned the policy. (See the biography of Shi Chong.) The emperor ignored them. For helping purge Yang Jun he gained a ten-thousand-household marquisate—rich bounty—and titles for kin. He refused half the silk and fiefs—sharing the rest with kin—keeping nothing. He became aide colonel then Eastern Qiang colonel. After three years as Yangzhou inspector he headed the ministry of agriculture. He refused Yanzhou despite general’s banners. Court pressure failed—He Pan pleaded sickness. Prince Lun’s summons met another refusal—grave illness. Lun threatened death—He Pan dragged himself to Luoyang. He died there at fifty-eight. Fair-minded and orderly in office, he honored scholars and talent. As Liang-Yi rectifier he recalled unjustly blocked men. Chen Shou and western scholars suffered decade-long village boycotts. He Pan reversed their verdicts—clearing injustice. Despite high rank he stayed poor—no concubines or musicians—only charity. Son He Zhang inherited his integrity.
78
史評
Historians’ appraisal
79
史臣曰：幽厲不君，上德猶懷進善； 共驩在位，大聖之所不堪。 況乎志士仁人，甯求苟合！ 懷其寵秩，所以系其存亡者也。 雖復自口銷金，投光撫劍，馳書北闕，敗車猶踐，而諫主不易，譏臣實難。 劉毅一遇寬容，任和兩遭膚受，詳觀餘烈，亦各其心焉。 若夫武陔懷魏臣之志，崔洪愛郤詵之道，長升勸王彌之尊，何攀從趙倫之命，君子之人，觀乎臨事者也。
Even under tyrants worthies still hoped to counsel virtue; petty rulers like Gong Huan exhaust even sages; how much less would principled men trim truth for favor! Rank and stipend bind ministers’ survival— yet even facing ruin remonstrating proves harder than flattering—truth cuts both ways. Liu Yi won rare patience—Ren Kai and He Jiao suffered credulous courts—each followed conscience nonetheless. Wu Gai kept Wei loyalty; Cui Hong praised Xi Shen; Liu Tun courted Wang Mi; He Pan answered Prince Lun—character shows in crisis.
80
贊曰：仲雄初令，忠謇揚庭。 身方諸葛，帝擬桓、靈。 大業非楊，元褒誚賈。 和氏條暢，堪施大廈。 崔門不謁，聲飛朝野。 侯史、武陔，輔佐之才。 何攀平允，冤濫多回。
Verse: Liu Yi’s early zeal shook the court— likened to stern ministers—yet matched with doomed Han emperors; Daye refused Yang Jun’s tide—Ren Kai mocked Jia Chong; He Jiao stood tall as ridge timber; Cui Hong barred favor-seekers yet fame soared; Houshi Guang and Wu Gai served as fine assistants; He Pan’s fairness redeemed many wrongs.